Sponsored by the Brewer Foundation and New York University, the IPPF is the first and only competition that gives high school students around the world the opportunity to engage in written and oral debates on issues of public policy.
 
The competition begins annually in October, as teams submit a qualifying round essay on the IPPF topic. During the 2024-25 contest, the IPPF topic was: "Resolved: Equitable access to pharmaceuticals should be prioritized over protecting intellectual property rights." Judges select the Top 64 teams, who were invited to engage in a single elimination, written debate tournament — volleying essays back and forth via email. The top eight teams earn an all-expenses-paid trip to the IPPF Finals in New York City in May!​​
 
This international contest is open to all schools - public and private. Teams compete for awards and scholarships. The IPPF World Champion wins a $10,000 grand prize!